Christmas No. 1: Why Britain obsessed while America shrugged

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Most people are already enjoying their favorite Christmas songs. We’re fully immersed in the seasonal music that’s popular this time of year. Interestingly, the competition to have the top Christmas song became a big deal in the UK, but didn’t really take off in the US.

Christmas music streaming has become increasingly important in recent years. The move to streaming platforms has made classic holiday songs easier to find, which has altered the music charts. This shift has also narrowed the gap in how Christmas songs are popular and promoted in the UK versus the US.

The UK has consistently prioritized achieving the Christmas number one single more than the US, especially during the 1970s and 80s. There was a real push in the UK to top the charts during the holiday season.

Reaching the number one spot with our single was a fantastic achievement and a real honor. The race to the top generated a lot of excitement in the media and captured the public’s imagination. Interestingly, even established bands like Pink Floyd participated, even though they didn’t have a Christmas song of their own.

The UK sets the scene on Christmas No. 1s

The 1970s were a fantastic time for Christmas music, with lots of catchy and fun songs becoming popular. Several of these tracks became instant classics and are still played frequently today. Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody,” Mud’s “Lonely This Christmas,” Johnny Mathis’ “When A Child Is Born,” and Boney M’s “Mary’s Boy Child” all reached number one, and continue to bring a festive spirit to the season.

The 1980s saw the rise of charity singles, starting with Band Aid’s hugely successful “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” Shakin’ Stevens topped the charts in 1985 with “Merry Christmas Everyone,” and Cliff Richard continued the festive tradition with hits like “Mistletoe And Wine” in 1988 and “Saviours Day” in 1990.

Beyond the chart-toppers, many other classic songs continue to be popular at parties and still generate significant income. A prime example is Roy Wood and Wizzard’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.” It was recently discovered that this song accounts for an incredible 97% of the band’s streaming revenue.

More classic UK Christmas hits

And who could forget Wham!’s “Last Christmas”? For years, it was the best-selling single in the UK that never quite hit number one – until 2021, a remarkable 36 years after it was first released. A combination of its catchy melody and exposure through movies, television, and streaming finally propelled it to the top.

The recent passing of Chris Rea brought attention to the enduring popularity of his song “Driving Home For Christmas.” Although it only reached number 10 on the charts, the song has earned Rea over £7 million in royalties and continues to generate around £200,000 each year. This demonstrates just how profitable the Christmas single market has been, and remains, in the UK.

It was quite different at Christmas in America

Things were different in the US. While Americans definitely celebrated Christmas, the emphasis wasn’t on Christmas singles like it was in the UK. Instead, people paid more attention to full albums.

British artists often released songs in December, aiming for the coveted Christmas chart-topper. However, in the US, December was traditionally avoided as a release month because single sales were typically low. The competition for the number one spot lacked the excitement and media attention seen in the UK, and there simply wasn’t the same push to achieve chart success during the holidays.

Considering this, it’s not surprising that only one Christmas song—”The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”—reached number one on the US Billboard 100 between 1958 and 2018. While it’s a cheerful song, it doesn’t quite capture the same festive spirit as many popular Christmas songs in the UK. This doesn’t mean the US didn’t have Christmas songs; many were released, but they didn’t seem to aim for the top spot on the charts.

Streaming services have become the main way people listen to music, and Christmas songs are more popular than ever. Every year, they consistently top the charts, and we’ve all witnessed Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” repeatedly reach the number one spot.

Things feel a bit more balanced now, and the intense competition for the number one song in the UK has calmed down. But honestly, that’s okay because no matter where you are – here in the States or across the pond – there are tons of amazing holiday songs to choose from! Let’s just turn up the music and have a great time!

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2025-12-25 14:00